LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Pakistan has managed to avoid the risk of default for the time being by securing a $3 billion short-term financial package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a period of nine months.

He told reporters outside the district courts on Wednesday there was need to search for a permanent solution as a long-term measure.

Mr Qureshi said that he and his son, Zain Husain Qureshi, had surrendered before the court in cases registered against them regarding the May 9 arson incidents. He said that they were not present in Multan on May 9 and had no involvement in attacking state institutions.

He expressed confidence in proving their innocence in court and assured that they would maintain a peaceful approach throughout the legal proceedings. Mr Qureshi stated that their ideology differed from those involved in attacking state institutions, as they always supported and facilitated the state institutions instead.

Highlighting his role as the former foreign minister, he said that he had represented the country worldwide and consistently defended the nation’s interests. He stated that during his tenure, he raised the issue of Islamophobia before the international community and gained global support for Pakistan’s stance. He further emphasized the need for the Muslim world to take measures to prevent incidents such as the burning of the Quran in Sweden, which had caused distress among the 2 billion Muslims worldwide.

Mr. Qureshi called for peaceful protests against the burning of the Quran, saying that the nation should unite in condemning such incidents. He stated that a mere national assembly resolution was not enough, and concerted planning was required to prevent blasphemous acts.

Regarding allegations of attacking military institutions, Mr Qureshi categorically stated that he had always respected and protected the military institutions, and attacking them was never part of his thoughts or intentions.

Following the media talk, Mr Qureshi and his son left for Islamabad to attend a court hearing scheduled for the next day in another case.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023